Posted: April 7th, 2015

Evidence of Learning

Evidence of Learning

Identification and evidence of major learning in the course

Go back over your work in the course and provide a summary of what you view as your major learning in this course. Show evidence of what you learned by citing passages from your work( FORUM AND WIKI POST TO GROUP)

BELOW ARE MY POST TO GROUP FOR THE DIFFERENT UNITS. PLEASE SEND ME A MESSAGE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS. PLEASE USE THE BELOW WORK AS EXAMPLES TO WRITE THIS PAPER AS YOU SHOW EVIDENCE OF MAJOR LEARNING IN THIS COURSE. REF TO THE LAST ODER NUMBER  (81394200)

UNIT 3 FORUM POST TO GROUP :Paradigm(s), methodology(ies) and research methods

While doing a review of the two research reports, I found it very informative and enlightening. Through the review, I was able to appreciate the significance of research studies as it relates to the fluidity and dynamicity of the contemporary world’s social constructs. The review brought to my attention that research is a fundamental element in versatile social paradigms (Brown, 2011). It sees to it that paradigmatic shifts only advances toward better and more estimable societal dimension. Such dimensions includes economic, healthcare, social services, policies, environmental and social-interrelations developments (Amsden, Jackie & VanWynsberghe, 2005).

The two methodologies, namely; Qualitative Research methodology and Participatory Action Research (PAR) methodology, used in the two studies were considerably the best choices for each respective case. However, from my personal and contemporary point of view, I think Qualitative Research methodology appears to be the most effective and the most comfortable strategic approach for social related studies. This Research methodology constitutes tools which apparently have proven their utility efficacy, specifically to the study of psychological disciplines of humanities and the general social sciences. The methodology focuses on collecting in-depth second hand information with the aim of enhancing a better understanding of humanity and their behavioral characteristics at diversified social levels.  The methods develops social-knowledge, not only from the ‘what’, ‘where’, or ‘when’ perspectives, but also through investigating and questioning reasons and process of decision making (Harrikari, Rauhala & Virokannas, 2014).

Brene Brown (2011). Ted Talk: The power of vulnerability. Available at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=iCvmsMzlF7o

Amsden, Jackie & Rob VanWynsberghe. (2005). Community Mapping as a Research Tool with Youth. Action Research. Vol. 3. pp 357-381.

Harrikari, T., Rauhala, P.-L., & Virokannas, E. (2014). Social change and social work: The changing societal conditions of social work in time and place.

UNIT 4 WIKI GROUP POST : Need Assessment

We realized that there was increased case of homelessness in most of the towns in my country. Many people were lacking decent housing. Thus we felt that the problem was serious and requiring to be addressed imminently. Otherwise, adverse consequences, including but not limited to congestion, insecurity and disease outbreaks, were bound to occur. A nonprofit organization in Victoria decided to try and offer a lasting solution to the problem. Having had lived in this area for quite a good number of years, I was chosen to spearhead the research process. I selected a group of few assistance personnel’s, who likewise to my case, had lived in the area. Selecting an aboriginal group was relevant since I believed that each of them was conversant with the regions. In so doing, cases of communication barriers and inconveniences were subjectively sorted since the group could understand language spoken by natives (Watkins, 2007).

We began by trying to understand the problem at hand. We realized that many this people were lacking decent housing while others were homeless. We tried to investigate the courses of this problem by forming a group and dividing ourselves among the areas that were hard hit by this problem. We began by determining the research methods to use. After brainstorming, we decided to mainly involve informal interviewing and also rely on secondary sources of data on population data and censuses conducted in the previous years in this country (Mintzberg, 2000).

From our interviews, we discovered that the problem was so big and needed urgent concern or else many people would face adverse effects of homelessness. In one of the local towns, were found several families who were homeless and mostly slept in the streets from their birth. Many of this were children of primary school age. We discovered that many of these homeless people had moved to the urban areas in search of jobs where most of them were illiterate and could only rely on menial jobs. Others were runaway people who while at teenage had ran away from their families and moved to look for homes in many areas (Watkins, 2007).

There was the problem of how to come to settle these people in affordable houses. From the census reports, the number of homeless people kept on increasing over the years. We concluded that the government and other non- profit organization should provide some funds to purchase land were houses would be built and could be accessed at affordable rates. For the case of children who were orphans, in our report we resolved that well to do families would be requested to provide adoption for them and also look for children orphanages that were available in the country (Rossett, 2009).

Unit 8  FORUM POST TO THE GROUP : Generating and Analyzing Qualitative Data

Interviews are is the most well-known source of information in qualitative research. The one-to-one format is most dominant; however, focus groups and group interviews are occasionally conducted. Interviews vary from the highly structured to the open ended and conversional format. For socio demographic data, like the research under study, requires the highly structured format (Wrench, 2013). The questions administered to interviewers is normally the same; however the alignment of the questions, exact wording, and the type of follow up questions may range considerably. Focus groups involve interviews on a particular subject with a small group of persons. This method is efficient because the researcher collects information about several persons in one session.

Observation entails spending significant time in the setting. Field notes are taken during observations and are entirely focused on what is observed. The notes also determine what the observed events represents hence providing help while answering research questions during data analysis (Wrench, 2013). Other data- collecting methods include self- reports of attitude and knowledge. These are among the many sources of information in qualitative approaches. The researcher can formulate scenarios in the form of descriptions of actual pictures or situations, which are acted out for participants to see. The participants can then suggest their interpretation of what is being carried out in the scenario.

Limitation of Qualitative Methods

Data collection methods for qualitative research entail direct interactions with persons. It often involves direct contact with individuals in a group setting or on a one on one basis. Additionally, qualitative data is normally gathered from a smaller sample, therefore, qualitative research methods are expensive and time consuming.

Qualitative research analyzes each case individually. It does not impose preconceived assumptions or notions, additionally, it does not attempt to generalize all participants have a specific problem (Wadsworth, 2011). Qualitative methods have the merit of in depth analysis, flexibility and the ability to observe several aspects of a social scenario. A qualitative researcher can identify the need for further probes during interviews. Additionally, by using and developing questions on the spot researchers can acquire a more in-depth understanding of the respondent’s attitudes, beliefs, and situations. A researcher could also identify changes in bodily moods, expression, and voice intonation during interview hence getting richer data (Wadsworth, 2011).

References

Wadsworth, Y. (2011). How To Go About Finding Out: Techniques B-P. Do It Yourself Social Research. Australia: Allen&Unwin.

Wrench, J. (2013). Quantitative research methods for communication: a hands-on approach. New york: Oxford University Press.